Just when you think every leap in your life is in tune and well-paced, another stride springs up and do the rumba on your otherwise well-sprung life’s episode. I covered an event in Redang a week before Malaysia‘s Independence Day and disembarked on a private beach which looked like a piece of paradise on earth.
Travelled in a chartered coach to and fro the east coast town of Merang, we were part of the entourage of Wings, Malaysia‘s favourite rock group. From the time we left the jetty, we were transiting at every popular eating joint, community market buying batek and knick knacks to eating otak-otak while fighting with their kids for the next serving. There were approximately 30 of us whenever we stopped at any outlet, drawing attention wherever we went. Wings were obliging for photographs every time people recognised them. Some of the participants of the event bought several hundred Ringgit worth of keropok (crackers) for their friends and family while I was looking for some local delicacy to savour. The journey back to KL took 13 hours, giving me a spinning cerebrum and a butter-flown stomach.
Returning to a pile of work, I discovered a crack in my underwater housing. No leaks, thank God. This is just great. My camera is obsolete and to find a replacement is almost like impossible unless I buy a 2nd hand unit. I thought I‘d figure that one out after I took care of other pressing matters.
A week passed and I was into my Independence Day weekend. The all-demanding male in my life wants attention and he wants it now. If I were to as much as chat on the phone when I come home, I‘ve had it. I would end up being bruised by his dominant swipe of furpads and have my arm half chewed to oblivion. I don‘t think he realises how big and thug-like he is when he charges at me hoping to topple me over in which the look of glee would surface and shine on his snout.
Taking him out for his run at Stony Park is one big adventure. We were minding our own business when all of a sudden, a cock crowed. The next thing that happened was faster than lightning. Rufus struck a chicken tied to a tree trunk!! OMG! I was shouting at Rufus to drop the chicken! The bird poacher emerged from the stones he was hiding behind and was shouting at me and Rufus. Then I shouted back at him demanding to know why he tied the chicken up seeing that my dog was roaming in the park. And I had to catch my free ranging canine to drop the barely alive poultry as I had to drag him up a slope to head home with a mouthful of feathers. Why oh why me??? I don‘t know if the chicken was more traumatised or I was, having to deal with two animals and a poacher on a Sunday morning.
My beau visited me over the same weekend and his ex-girlfriend tracked him down to the club where we were, obviously displeased at the liaison before storming off. We went on a country run with his fast car, a convoy of continental car owners, to arrive in Seremban for some out of this world beef noodles. Everywhere we went, we seem to be feeding her baseless suspicion and news would travel across the seas to boomerang back to me. I feel so sorry for her disconcerted position as an ex. I hope she finds what she‘s looking for and keeps her relationship sacred and exclusive.
Surely there‘s peace amidst the chicken and chick chaos as I have found solace in spending my Sunday morning in the presence of the Most High in the sanctuary. Days later, I went on a live talk show on cable TV, Astro Awani, to talk on Women in Travel, an invitation extended to me a week before. I will find a way to post the video here eventually but for now, my life is such a drama in itself that I don‘t need to watch TV to enjoy a plot filled with conniving people, a rogue and a couple of unsung heroes.
Eh… Is that Rufus? Very cute.. 🙂